Shipping and dispensing case for coiled materials



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 B. E. ELDRIDGE SHIPPING AND DISPENSING CASE FOR COILEDMATERIALS Filed June ll, 1962 May 18, 1965 ATTORNEY May 18, 1955 B. E.ELDRIDGE 3,184,053

SHIPPING AND DISPENSING CASE FOR COILED MATERIALS Filed June ll, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Ujhl Q JUL 25 ,n i I sl xix I INVENTOR BRUCE E. ELDRIDEBY M,

ATTORNEY My 18, 1965 B. E. ELDRIDGE SHIPPING AND DISPENSING CASE FORCOILED MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1l, 1962 BRUCE E. ELDRIDGEATTORNEY United States Patent C 3,184,053 SHIPPWG AND DISPENSING CASEFOR COHJED MATERALS Bruce E. Eldridge, San Francisco, Calif., assignerto Oliver Tire & Rubber Company, akland, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed .lune 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,576 6 Claims. (Cl.2065-52) This invention relates generally to containers for use inshipping and storing relatively heavy lineal materials Wound on a core.It also relates to a novel method for loading such coils of materialwithin such a container and for assembling the container so that it canproperly perform its various functions.

In the handling of certain flexible, .but heavy and bulky materials ofextended length that are .arranged `in coiled form, there has long =beena need for a container that would not only properly support the .coil ofmaterial in transit or in storage but also one 'which lwould facilitatethe dispensing of the material in desired lengths when it is being used.A particularly important problem which arose 'with such heavy coiledmaterials was in providing a container that would support the coil sothat it would not exert its weight on one portion of its peripheraledge. In containers heretofore used where `the coil was free to movearound against the walls of the container because of a lack of internalsupport, the material lbecame distorted and took a permanent set -bydeveloping a at spot on one side of the coil. This distortion either-weakened the :material or at least made it more difficult to handle.

The aforementioned problem was particularly serious in the case of coilsof tread rubber used in recapping tires. Tread rubber material is softand easily deformed and is generally supplied in coils of llong stripsto recappers. If during storage and shipment this material is allowed torest on its side or on edge it easily acquires a distorted shape in thecontainer. This not only lmakes it diiicult to handle bythe recapper,but it often makes it impossible to produce a perfect recapping job.

Accordingly, one principal object of the present invention is to solvethe laforementioned problem by providing a unique shipping .containerfor a relatively -heavy bulky coil of strip or line material thatsuspends the coil of material substantially around its .central axis ofrotation within :an enclosed package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shipping container forheavy coils of strip material that has unusual strength and durabilityand which can be closed tight so that it can .be kept dust and moisturelfree during 4its use when containing the coiled material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shipping containervfor a heavy coil of material which upon arrival at its destination canbe used to dispense the coiled material in predetermined .desiredlengths as it is needed. When a reel of heavy material is once loaded-into the container according to my invention it doe-s not have to .beremoved from the container and remounted .for use. The container canmerely be positioned in any desired manner on a pipe rack or on any hatsurface and the 4coiled material can then -be unwound when needed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shipping container forcarrying heavy bulky coiled materials that is easy to assemble.

A further object of my invention is to provide -a shipping .containerfor enclosing and supporting a .coiled strip of heavy bulky material sothat the weight of .the coil is not exerted on one side of it against aside of the container and so that the coil of material is prevented fromrotating when packaged and is releas-able when within .the package sothat it will rotate to dispense lengths of material from the coil.

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Another object of my invention is to provide la novel method yforloading a relatively heavy bul-ky coil of material within a container sothat it will be rotatably supported by the `container while also beingenclosed by it.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shipping container forcoiled materials that not only 'fuliills the aforementioned objects, butalso is particularly adaptable for ease and economy of manufacture.

Another object of my invention .is to provide a shipping container dorcoiled materials wherein the material .can be coiled up on a reellWithin the container after it has been assembled.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will lbecomeapparent from the following description of the invention presented inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. 112.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the shipping and dispensing containeraccording to the .present invention;

FIG. 2 is la view in side elevation of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a greatly enlarged .fragmentary View in section showing indetail one means for attaching the end of the coil to an inner wall ofthe container;

FIG. i3 is an enlarged fragmentary view lin elevation and in sectionshowing details of one form of construction of the container in fFIGS. 1and 2;-

FIG. 4 is .an enlarged fragmentary view .in elevation and in sectionshowing details of a slightly modified .form of .construction of acontainer according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 4is a fragmentary View in elevation and in section of anothermodified form of my invention utilizing a single tixed core member;

FIG. 6 `is a plan view showing the box blank of the container according.to the invention before it is assembled; v

FIG. 7 -is 4an exploded view in elevation yand in section taken alongthe 'line 6 5 of FIG. 2 and showing lthe various components of :thecontainer before being assembled;

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective showing one step in the method ofloading a coil of material and assembling the container according to theinvention;

FlG. 9 is a view in perspective showing another step in the containerloading method of the invention;

FlG. 10 is a view in perspective showing a yfurther step in .thecontainer loading method with the roll of material secured within thecontainer sleeve.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. l shows a combination shipping,`st-orage, and `dispensing container 1t) embodying the principles of theinvention with a coil of material 11 mounted within the container sothat it is completely suspended without any of its sides or edgestouching the inner `sides of the container lil. While it is to beunderstood that my container lil can he used for various types of coiledmaterials, I will describe its vari-ous components and their novelfeatures with particular reference to the packaging of tread rubber.Thus, the coil of material 11 typiiies a coil of tread rubber that isnormally formed in a long strip of uniform width and thickness andcoiled about a fixed paper core member 12.

My container 10 has as its basic component ya box blank 13 which isshown in FIG. 6 before it is folded and assembled. -For purposes ofillustration, the box blank 13 is Ishown as the well known regularslotted carton, but l may use other box blank configurations such as onethat provides a `full overlap top .and bottom. The box blank 13 ispreferably constructed from corrugated box material of suitable strengthand is cut and Iscored to form a pair of end panels 1-4 and 15 and apair of side panels 16 and 17 which form the four sides of thecontainer. Adjacent one of the side panels 17 lis an assembly tab 13that forms the manufacturers joint. This member could, if desired,

be eliminated if the manufacturers joint is formed by 4taping the sidepanel 17 to the end panel 14 rather than by stitching the assembly tab18' to the end panel 14. Each of the side walls and end walls has aclosure section or flap atV each upper and lower edge. For example,attached to theV upper and lower edges of the sideV panels 16 and 17are'liaps 19, 2tirand 21, 22, respectively, and attached to the upperand lower sides of the end panels 14 and 15 are closure flaps 23, 24 and25, 26. The flaps 19, 21 `and 23, 25 will be considered the sectionsforming the top closure of the container `and the flaps 20, 22 and 24,26 will be referred to as the bottomclosure sections. The `side panels16 and `17 `are generally rectangular and cent-rally located Vin themare -a pair of circular openings 27 yand 28 which may be die-cut whenthe box blank 13 is formed. On one of the end panels 15 near its upperend is a U-shaped scored or perforated line 29 which can be readilyfractured to form an access door 30 into the container 10 whenit hasreached its destination.

As stated previously, the material tov be packaged is generally coiledabout a fixed -core member 12 of some rigid materiaLfhaving asubstantial diameter.y According to vthe invention, this cylindricalroll-of material 11 is Vmounted- Within the container di! so that noneof its sides ytouch or bear against the inner sides of the container. Inorder to accomplish this suspension of the heavy bulky coil of materialas shown in the embodiment of FIGS.

1-3, thecontfainer 10 provides a rigid cylindrical coreV member V31 thatextends between the `side panels 16 and 17. The core member 31 issupported at each end by a pair of Vcup members 32 which are made ofmetal, .plastic or some other suitable rigid material. Each cup member32 is an integral member having a generally circular .end portion 36.The end portion 36 terminates with an inwardly annular iiange portion 37in the center of which is an opening 38.k The openings 38 on each cupV32 are preferably reinforcedalong their edge by .a bent over cir-`cular bead 39. The cylindrical barrelportion 35 of each vcup member 32is adapted to fit snuglywithin the central coremember 31 and its taperedend portion 36 serves as a self-centering guide means that makes iteasier for the cup members to be inserted intoy the core member andopening 27 and 28 during the loadingand assembly of Y the container 10.

To strengthen the container 10 around each cup member 32 an annularwasher 40 of any suitable -sheet material vmay be used between theoutward extending radial lflange 34 of each cup 32 and the containersidewall 16 or 17 adjacent thereto. The washers 40 help to alleviate thestress on the box produced by the suspended reel of material bydistributing it over the entirearea covered by -the washers 40 ratherthan having it vconcentrated at one before they are formed.

'In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the cups l 32areattachedto thecontainer side Walls 16 and 17 so that they do not rotaterelative thereto but instead form a snug fit within the circularopenings 27 and 28. In this embodiment, after the cup members 32 Vareinserted into eachof'the circular openings 28, 28 and into the ends ofthe central core member `31, a series of radially outwardly extendingdimples 41 are formed Iin the cylindrical sides of each cupmember 32.The dimples or protuberance 41 extendginto the central coremember 31,locking the cup member-s 32 to its ends just inside the side walls 16,17 of the container 1t).

In some instances it may be `highly desirableto be able to rotate thereel of material from outside the container, by providing a rigidconnection between the cup members and the fixed core of the reel. Thisfeature is accomplished by the modified form of therinvention shown inFIG. 4. Here, the central core 31a, which originally is slidably fittedinto the fixed core 12a of the reel of material, is preferably longerthan the core 31m FIG. 3 and extends to the outer surface of the sidepanels 16a, 17a of the container 10a. The circular openings 27a Vand 28ain the side walls 16a, 17a have a larger diameter and are preferablyVreinforced by annular` bearing rings 42. The members 42 which may bemadefrom any suitable rigid material such as an nexpensive'plastic, have awidth somewhat greater than the side wallsla, 17a of the container and aradial ange portion 43 that is preferably bonded to the containerwallVaround the openings 27a and ZSb. The inside diameter of the member 42is' somewhat greater than that of the core 31a but less than that of thexed core 12a of the reel of material. With the cup members 32a fittedsnugly within the ends of the core member 31a there is a running annularclearance between the bearing members 42 and the core'member 3in1. Inthis arrangement, the cup members 32a are staked at spaced apartintervals to form radially extending detents 41a that connect the cupmembers 32a to both the core member 31a and the core 12a. Thus, the cupmembers 32a are rigidly fixed to the reel of material in the containerand they'rcan be rotated relative to the container so that by using asuitable means a torque can be applied to the cups to wind-Yup the reelinside the container.

A further modification of my invention is shown in FIG. 5 wherein a pairof cup members 32h are fitted directly into and rigidly fixed by meansof staked detents 41b to the fixed'core 12b of a reel of material. Thus,in this arrangement, no central core meinberrsuch as 31a is used. Hereagain, as in the modification of FIG; 4, bearing V*members 42b aresupplied to reinforce the openings 27bVV and 28h in the'container sidewalls" and to furnish bearing surfaces for the cup members 3211.

An important aspect of my invention is` the novel method by which theYheavy rolls or coils 11 of material Vsuch as tread rubber are loadedintothe containerrlll as it isbeing assembled. This method is best shownby FIGS. 8-10. Y Yin FIG. 8, the rollA of tread rubber material 11having In the vfirst step of the method, illustrated a fixed core member12 and a loosely fitting central core member 31 is supported at the endsof its fixed core member 12 bya pair of narrow spaced Vapartcradlemembers The cradleI members 45 are attached to some suitf 'ableframe device 46 and are therebyV supported on the floor near theirer1-ds.` In a production line loading Vsystem the members 45 maycomprise the endportions ,of

a support rack on which a plurality of rolls may be mounted in readinessfor being packed. K

With the roll 11 4supported as described, a box blank 13, folded andconnected toform an open sleeve, is yplaced over the roll 11l and theVsupported cradle members-45 Vas shown in FIG. 9. The box sleeve ispositioned so that the lcircular box openings 27,v 28V are inregisterwith the ends o f the looselyrfitting central core 31 placed inside the,fixed core 12 of the roll 11.

, In the third step of the Vmethod `(FIG. l0), the cup vmembers 32 aredriven axially into thebox openings 2 7 and 28 and into the ends of thecentral core 31, the wash- V ers 40 (or bearing members 42) being firstplaced between the cup memberrouter ange's 34 and the sides 16 and 17ofthebox. y

The fourth step ofthe method is `best shown by reference to FIG. -3'or 4andfinvolves the staking of the cups 32 to form the Vradially extendingdimples 41 which lock the cups 32 firmly to the ycentral core member.31, as shown in FIG. 3, or also to the fixed core member 31a mettons asshown in the modification of FIG. 4. This dimpling or staking step canbe done rapidly by mechanical means almost simultaneously with theinsertion of the cups 32 into the central core member 31.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, another feature of my invention is thatalthough the roll of bulky heavy material 11 is suspended within thecontainer 16 it can be prevented from rotating therein when packaged forshipment and handling. Also it can be easily released for rotation whenit is desired to remove some of the material from the container. Thisfeature is accomplished in a ifth step of my method which is to attachthe free end 47 of the coil ma-terial 11 to the inside surface 44 of theend wall of the container and preferably at the access door formed bythe perforated line 29. Any suitable means can be used to attach thefree end 47 of the roll 11, but I prefer to use a series of spaced apartdrops 48 of contact cement of any suitable type (see FIG. 2A). At thefree end 47 of the roll of material a lifting tab 49 is provided thatextends away from the inside surface 44 and can be readily grasped andtorn loose when the access door 3G has been opened.

In the sixth and final step of the method, the container i9, with theroll of material 11 now rmly retained within the box sleeve, is removedfrom the cradle members and the end closure ilaps are folded to theclosed position and sealed by the conventional means.

When the container 10, according to my invention, is received by theconsumer it can be placed in the desired position such as on a rack oron a pipe 5t) extending through the openings 3S in the cups. The accessdoor 30 is then fractured and opened to provide access to the free end47 of the material 11. When this is done, with the box 19 properly inposition, the end 47 of the coil of material can be easily torn loosefrom its fixed position on the access door 30 and the desired length ofmaterial can be removed and used, leaving the remainder of the materialstill coiled within the box and protected from dirt and moisture.

With my invention it is also possible to load a oontainer after it hasbeen assembled by winding it up on a core that is retained within thecontainer. For example, a container structure similar to that of FIG. 4could be used. In the case of tread rubber, the stock could be connecteddirectly at one end to the iixed core 31a and a torque could be appliedto rotate the attached cups 32a. Or, another method (not shown} would beto wind the material on a core supported by mandrel extended within theassembled container, after which the mandrel would be removed as thecups are installed in the core in accordance with the invention aspreviously described. The foregoing serves to illustrate the unusualversatility of my unique container.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves Without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and thedescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting.

I claim.

1. A shipping and storage container for retaining a coil of relativelyheavy material having a uniform width and thickness comprising: a boxmember including a pair of opposite end panels, a pair of opposite sidepanels, and enclosure means connected to said end panels and sidepanels, said side panels having axially aligned circular openingstherethrough; a cylindrical central core extending between saidopenings; and a pair of cup members extending through said openings andalso within the ends of said central core to retain the central corewithin said box, said central core being slidably disposed within thefixed core of a coil of said heavy material; whereby said coil ofmaterial is completely suspended within said container and supportedabout its fixed core.

2. A shipping and storage container for retaining a coil of relativelyheavy material having a uniform width and thickness comprising: a boxblank, said blank being slotted, scored, and folded to form a box memberincluding a pair of opposite end panels, a pair of opposite side panels,and enclosure means connected to said end panels and side panels, saidside panels having centrally located and axially aligned circularopenings therethrough; a cylindrical central core extending between saidopenings; a core cup member in each of said openings and engaged in anend of said central core to retain it within said box, said central corebeing disposed within the fixed core of a coil of said heavy material;means on the inner surface of one of said end panels of said box forretaining the end or" said coiled material in a iixed position; and anaccess door in a said end panel adjacent to said end of the coiledmaterial; whereby said coil of material is completely suspended withinsaid container and supported about its fixed core.

3. A shipping and storage container for retaining a coil of relativelyheavy material having a uniform width and thickness comprising: a boxblank of corrugated paperboard material, said blank being slotted,scored, and folded to lform a box member including a pair of oppositeend panels, a pair of opposite side panels, and enclosure meansconnected to said end panels and side panels, said side panels havingcentrally located and axially aligned circular openings therethrough; atubular central core extending between said openings; a pair of core cupmembers, each having a radially extending flange and an axial bodyportion disposed snugly in one of said openings and also in the ends ofsaid central core to retain it within said box, radially extendingdetent means for securing said cup members to said central core; saidcentral core being retained within the fixed core of a coil of saidheavy material; whereby said coil of material is cornpletely suspendedwithin said container and supported about its lixed core.

4. A shipping and storage container for retaining a coil of relativelyheavy material having a uniform width and thickness comprising: a boxblank of corrugated paperboard material, said blank being slotted,scored, and folded to form a box including a pair of opposite endpanels, a pair of opposite side panels, and enclosure means connected tosaid end panels and side panels, said side panels having centrallyloacted and axially aligned circular openings therethrough; acylindrical central core extending between said openings; a pair of corecup members, each said cup member having a radially outwardly extendingiiange at one end, a cylindrical body portion, and a radially inwardlyextending iiange at the other end of said body portion forming a centralopening, each said cup member extending through one of said box openingsand also within one end of said central core to retain it within saidbox; said openings in said box side panels having a greater diameterthan the diameter of the body of said cup members but less than thediameter of said outwardly radially extending flange; detent means forsecuring said cup members to said central core, said central core beingwithin the iixed core of a coil of said heavy material; whereby saidcoil of material is completely suspended within said container andsupported about its fixed core.

5. A shipping and storage container for retaining a coil of relativelyheavy material having a uniform width and thickness comprising: a boxblank of corrugated paperboard material, said blank being slotted,scored, and folded to form a box including a pair of opposite endpanels, a pair of opposite side panels, and enclosure means connected tosaid end panels and side panels, said side panels having centrallylocated and axially aligned circular openings therethrough; acylindrical central core ex tending between said openings; a pair ofcore cup members, each said cup member having a radially outwardlyextending flange at one end, a cylindrical body portion, and a radiallyinwardly extending ange at the other end of said body portion forming acentral opening, each said cup member being disposed snugly Vin one ofsaid box openings and also in the end of said central core to retain thelatter within said box, said openings in said box side panels having adiameter substantially equal to the diameter of the body of each of saidcup members, said cup members being thus substantially lixed relative tosaid box; detent means for securing said cup members to said centralcore, said central core extending through the ixed core of a coil ofsaid heavy material; whereby said coil of material is completelysuspended Within said container and supported about its ixed core.

6. A shipping and storage container for suspending a coil of relativelyheavy material about its rotational axis Within the containercomprising: a box member including` a pair of opposite end panels, apair of opposite side panels, and enclosure means connected to said endpanels and side panels, vsaid side panels having axially alignedcircular openings therethrough; tubular core means comprismembersrigidly connecting said cup members to said inner core member; wherebysaid cup members are rotatable relative to said container when said coilis rotated.

Y References Cited by the Examiner Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 485,712 11/92VRogers 206-52 1,098,479 6/14 Clark 242-68 1,713,129 5/29 lHope 206-521,919,769 7/33Y Brown 242-68.6 X 1,935,367 11/33 Lippiu 242-685 X2,045,035 6/36 Rock 242-686 2,106,726 2/38 Draeger 206-52 2,155,140 4/39Markle 242-1186 2,262,874 11/41 Wright 206-52 2,330,117 9/43V Feinberg206-58 2,591,576 4/52 lVIcCOrmiCk 206-52 X 2,646,877 7/53 SchollV 206-52X 2,822,084k 2/58 Eilertsen 206-52 X 2,836,292 5/58 Klein 206-582,864,495 12/58 Ritchie 208-56 XV 3,083,928 4/63 VOiSSern 242-586 XTHERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, EARLE I. DRUMMOND,

' Examiners.

6. A SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER FOR SUSPENDING A COIL OF RELATIVELY HEAVY MATERIAL ABOUT ITS ROTATIONAL AXIS WITHIN THE CONTAINER COMPRISING: A BOX MEMBER INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSITE END PANELS, A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE PANELS, AND ENCLOSURE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID END PANELS AND SIDE PANELS, SAID SIDE PANELS HAVING AXIALLY ALIGNED CIRCULAR OPENINGS THERETHROUGH; TUBULAR CORE MEANS COMPRISING AN OUTER CORE MEMBER FIXED WITHIN SAID COIL AND A LONGER INNER CORE MEMER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OUTER CORE MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID OPENINGS AND SUPPORTING SAID COIL OF MATERIAL WITHIN SAID CONTAINER; ANNULAR BEARING MEMBERS ATTACHED TO SAID SIDE PANELS AROUND SAID OPENINGS; A PAIR OF CUP MEMBERS WITH AN OUTWARDLY RADIAL FLANGE FITTED LOOSELY IN EACH OF SAID OPENINGS BUT SNUGLY IN THE ENDS OF SAID INNER CORE MEMBER TO RETAIN IT WITHIN SAID BOX; AND A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING DETENT MEMBERS RIGIDLY CONNECTING SAID CUP MEMBERS TO SAID INNER CORE MEMBER; WHEREBY SAID CUP MEMBERS ARE ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO SAID CONTAINER WHEN SAID COIL IS ROTATED. 